The following is written in the spirit of
speculation.
If we
assume that God in His original and enduring state is one of non-materiality,
essentially in essence only mind, then it makes sense that when interacting
with humanity (and other beings such as angels for that matter) God would take
on material form. It also makes sense that this form would be human in
appearance. Here’s an example: In Genesis three angels (or messengers) are
spending time with Abraham. One of the three was designated as God (or Lord).
“Then
the Lord appeared to
Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting in the entrance of his
tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw
three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of
the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. Then he said, “My
lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your
servant. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash
your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. I will bring a bit of bread
so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your
servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”
“Yes,” they replied, “do as
you have said.”
“So Abraham hurried into the
tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and
make bread.” Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice
calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. Then
Abraham took curds and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and
set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.
“Where is your wife Sarah?”
they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he
answered.
“The Lord said, “I will certainly come
back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a
son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
“Abraham and Sarah were old
and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So
she laughed to herself: “After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old,
will I have delight?”
“ But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah
laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ Is anything
impossible for the Lord? At the
appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a
son.” (Genesis 18: 1-14 HCSB)
Here’s an interesting
passage in Galatians:
“I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like
you. You have not wronged me; you know that previously I preached the
gospel to you because of a physical illness. You did not despise or reject
me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you
received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.” (Galatians 4:12-14
HCSB)
Let’s do a thought
experiment. Over time as God developed a relationship with humanity, He
utilized his cadre of messengers in making contact. It was a form of a test or
apprenticeship. He was gauging which messenger was best at relating and conveying
His essence.
If God can assume the form
of an earthly human being (Re: Jesus), why He couldn’t also assume the form of
a celestial messenger? And not just one, but many with varying results?
(Stratification of messengers into two camps (good and evil) probably began
long before Garden of Eden. See last few chapters in the Book of Daniel.)
I’m suggesting that God
moved from a series of temporary theophanies to a permanent theophany. A
passageway as it were that was a conduit to humanity.
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